I didnt say to trade Lavarnway. I stated that I think his offense is his asset and having him catch full time was/is taking away from that. He may have got an award last year, but when I watch him with my own eyes I see a slow, lumbering guy with questionable mechanics behind the plate.

Vasquez is a much better defensive catcher than Lavarnway and it seems more of a natural position for him where is seems a little forced with Lav. Vasquez also has some pop in that bat too.

Id rather have Lavarnway concentrate 100% on hitting. We have no power bats in our system. The closest thing is Lav and his bat is being stifled by leaving him at a position that, IMO, he should not and wont be playing full time anyway.

Moon, I stand by everything I've said about Salty. I really do think he is not just defensively challenged but one of the worst defensive catchers in the game. He does hit HR though and that is a tremendous asset. Sometimes HR come in bunches though so we don't know what we are going to get.

Like with SS, I'd rather have a strong defensive catcher, ideally with some pop and OBP. To me, that is the ideal. A Buster Posey, Joe Mauer, Yadier Molina.

To me, if Lavarnway is not a catcher he is of relatively little value. The guy has never played 1st base in his life and people think now is a good time for him to start playing 1st. His bat is probably not strong enough to be a DH or the OF, where he would be a major defensive liability.

For Lavarnway to make it he needs to be Mike Piazza / Ryan Doumit type catcher, hopefully somewhere in between those 2 guys!

I couldn't find your posts on this thread where you had the defensive data from baseball reference. I thought maybe they were deleted.

Maybe they were on another thread?

They probably are on another thread. I didn't delete them. It isn't worth going into again IMO. I hope Salty does well. We need him this year. I still think Lavarnway will resurrect his career but it isn't happening any time soon so Salty is our best bet right now.

Salty showing better plate discipline this year. He will have his bad games, but certainly looking much better. HR and 2 doubles last night. If he keeps this up, he will setting himself up for a nice contract.

Salty showing better plate discipline this year. He will have his bad games, but certainly looking much better. HR and 2 doubles last night. If he keeps this up, he will setting himself up for a nice contract.

His HR last night came off one of best swings I've ever seen, he cleaned it out.

It's his defense and handling of the staff that turned me around. To me, with a catcher and SS, it all starts with defense.

I'm not saying Salty is "there" yet, but he gained a lot last year and earned my respect enough to think we should have extended him before game 1 this year. I also said that if we didn't have him in our longterm plans, then we should trade him before we get nothing, if he walks after 2013.